Rebekka Paskewitz, a 20-year-old college student from Todd County, Minn., was crowned the 65th Princess Kay of the Milky Way in an evening ceremony at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Aug. 22.

Paskewitz will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for the next year for nearly 3,000 Minnesota dairy farm families.

TODD COUNTY ROYALTY: As the 65th Princess Kay, Rebekka Paskewitz, a 20-year-old college student from Browerville and representing Todd County, Minn., will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for nearly 3,000 Minnesota dairy farm families. She is the daughter of Alan and Vicki Paskewitz and attends South Dakota State University, where she is pursuing a degree in agricultural education.She is the daughter of Alan and Vicki Paskewitz of Browerville, and attends South Dakota State University, where she is pursuing a degree in agricultural education.

The 64th Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Emily Annexstad (in photo at top, partially hidden by Paskewitz), performed the crowning honors.

Twelve county dairy princesses from throughout Minnesota competed for the Princess Kay of the Milky Way title. Blaize Dankers of Plainview, representing Wabasha County, and Korissa Lindquist of Kerkhoven, representing Kandiyohi County, were selected as runners-up.

Katherine Gathje of Richmond, representing Meeker County; Ashley Maus of Freeport, representing Stearns County; and Julia Mullenbach of Rose Creek, representing Mower County were named scholarship winners. Lindquist was also named Miss Congeniality.

Throughout her yearlong reign as Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Paskewitz will make public appearances to help connect consumers to Minnesota’s dairy farm families. She will work to bring dairy to life through conversations, classroom visits and various speaking engagements.

Paskewitz’s first official duty as Princess Kay was sitting in a rotating cooler in the Dairy Building for nearly six hours to have her likeness sculpted in a 90-pound block of butter Aug. 23 — the opening day of the Minnesota State Fair.

This year marks butter sculptor Linda Christensen’s 47th year carving the Princess Kay winner and finalists at the Minnesota State Fair.

Other finalists are scheduled to have their likenesses sculpted as follows:

• Today. Amy Broll, Chaska, representing Carver County

• Tuesday. Megan Hollermann, Burtrum, representing Todd County

• Wednesday. Blaize Dankers, Plainview, representing Wabasha County

• Thursday. Ashley Maus, Freeport, representing Stearns County

• Friday. Katherine Gathje, Richmond, representing Meeker County

• Saturday. Catherine Thompson, Plainview, representing Olmsted County

• Sept. 2. Korissa Lindquist, Kerkhoven, representing Kandiyohi County

• Sept. 3. Calissa Lubben, Edgerton, representing Rock County

Melendy Miller, Plainview, representing Wabasha County; Laura Grimm, Waconia, representing Carver County; and Julia Mullenbach, Rose Creek, representing Mower County sat for their butter-carving sessions last week.

Throughout the fair, Princess Kay and the other finalists will make appearances near the Butter Sculpture Booth in the Dairy Building, at the Moo Booth in the Dairy Barn and onstage at the Miracle of Birth Center.

Princess Kay’s Facebook page will provide daily updates and photos of each completed butter sculpture.

Princess Kay candidates are judged on their general knowledge of the dairy industry, communication skills and enthusiasm for dairy. Midwest Dairy sponsors the Princess Kay program, which is funded by dairy farmers through their promotion checkoff.

Source: Midwest Dairy